Wave-motor.



No. 675,039. Pmnted. may 28,' mol. .1'.1 GBAFF wAvE Moron. j (Application led Dec. 7-, 1900.)

' (no nodal.)

' rrnn Sterns Parr FFICE.

JUSTIN J. GRAFF, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO JACQUES V. QUEN"IN AND WALTER LEROUX, OF SAME PLACE.

WAVE-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming' part Of Letters Patent No. 675,039, dated May 28, 1901.

Application filed December 7, 1900. Serial No. 39,082. (No model.)

To a/ 1071/0771, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JUSTIN J. GRAFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in fave-Motors, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to wave-motors, and more particularly to the type in which the oncoming motion of wave or surf furnishes the motive power as distinguished from those in which a float is lifted vertically. I do employ a float, not to secure a lifting action, but to form a buoyant part of an oscillating device, which buoyant part is the resistance to the wave and is self-adjusting to the height of the latter by reason of its buoyancy.

My object is to furnish a simple and effective motor self-adjusting to tides and to an estimated range of wave heights.

I have embodied my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the motor with connections to a driven mechanism. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the motor. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the doat.

At a suitable distance beyond low tide, and which depends upon the slope of the beach and the mean depth of water caused thereby, I anchor a strong foundation to supportthe motor. For moderate depths I employ a casing A, heavily weighted with concrete orother suitable material and embedded in the sand. If there is rock beneath a moderate depth of sand, the casing can be bolted thereto in addition. Instead of the casing, however, I can substitute a structure of piling, if the bottom is suitable, the only object being to obtain a strong foundation-support for the motor. Pivoted to this support is an osciliating frame comprising any number of parallel guide-rods B, of which three are shown, connected at the top and bottom, the journals or pivots being at the bottom.

Upon the frame isa self-adjusting buoyant float C, which may be hollow, so as to be buoyant in itself, or, preferably, which is rendered buoyant by air-tight boxes D. This is the simpler construction, as if a hollow box were employed it would be necessary to form airtight passages surrounding the guiderods B. I'Vith the construction shown the float can be Wholly loose on the rods (see Fig. 3) and has a free movement upon them, the rods passing through the elongated slots c.

Supported by the fioat is a vane E, which is also freely movable on the rods B, which pass through its guides e. This vane maybe secured to the tloat; but I prefer to make it independent, so that it rests by sim ple gravity upon the tioat and will always be lifted by it. In a structure exposed to wave action it is better to avoid rigid connections between movable parts where practicable, so as to allow for some play and yielding between them. Practically, however, the float and vane are connected, and the lift of the float is always .communicated to the vane above it. The vane E is preferably made in two parts hinged together. The second part is a feathering-shutter E/,which hangs downward from the vane and is not connected to the guide-rods. The two combined offer a solid area of resistance to the oncoming wave, the shutter closing against the frame, so that the whole vane and the oscillating frame which supports it are forced forward to an inclined position, substantially as shown in Fig. l.V

At such a position the forward im pulse ceases and the water escapes forward over the top of the vane. If the vane has been forced down to still water, the shutter opens automatically and relieves any resistance. I prefer to attach stops e' to the vane, which when the shutter is open bear against the lioat, and thus prevent the vane from sliding down, so as to cause the float to obstruct the closing of the shutter.

A rod F is loosely connected to the top of the guide-frame at fand extends to any mechanism which is to be driven. I have shown an air-compressing cylinder G, whose pistonrod H is connected to a crank h on an oscillating shaft I. An arm J connects this shaft to the rod F. The cylinder Gis shown with air-inlet Valves g at the top, which open downwardly to admit air on the dowustroke and close on the upward or compression stroke. The com pression-stroke is caused by the forward or effective motion of the wave-motor, the return of the motor to its original position, which is substantially vertical, being made without resistance and is aided by the backtlow of water.

IOO

t Sa More than one of such motors can be used arranged in a series, so as to be exposed successively to the action of the Waves.

From the air-compressor a pipe K, having a check-valve k, extends to an air-storage tank L.

Any other driven mechanism can be substituted for that shown, and connections can be provided for converting the oscillation of the frame communicated through rod F into any other class of motion.

in case of heavy storms, which mightv endanger the motor, it is evident that the rod F can be disconnected from the top of the guideframe, which Will permit the motor to swing forward and" lie flat, so that the Waves can pass over Without doing any damage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A Wave-motor comprising a frame arranged in a substantially vertical position and oscillating7 upon a xed axis of oscillation at its bottom, exposed to the Waves, and adapted to be connected to driven mechanism.

2. A Wave-motor comprising an oscillating frame adapted to be connected to driven mechanism, and a buoyant float and vane movable upon said frame.

3. A Wave-motor comprising an oscillating frame adapted to be connected to driven meehanism, a buoyant float guided loosely Aon said vframe, a vane also movable on said frame,

and a shutter hinged to said vane, and forming when closed a resistance to Water and when open, a passage for it. In testimony Whereot` I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of November, 1900.

` JUSTIN J. GRAFF.

Witnesses: L. W. SEELY, F. W. BURT. 

